"Mucosal [nasal] vaccines can prevent not only diseases, but also to block infections before they even take place, thereby protecting also non-vaccinated contacts against disease," said Carlos A. Guzmán, head of the vaccine department.
Although these sprays are promising, people may be reluctant to sniff, WHO's director of vaccine research, Marie-Paul Kieny, told IRIN. "[It is] good for people afraid of needles ... but there is a certain reluctance of the public - [nasal sprays] look new. They like shots, after all, it looks more 'medical'."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has only approved one nasal spray vaccine, MedImmune Flumist, for preventing influenza.
Of mice and men
Aluminium salts are commonly added to vaccines to increase efficacy, but their impact is waning; WHO said efforts were underway to find new molecular helpers - also called adjuvants - to create vaccines for diseases like malaria and HIV.
Preventable deaths | |
2.5 million children died in 2004 from preventable diseases | |
Source: WHO, 2004 |
Two and a half million children died in 2004, the most recent year for which data was analyzed, from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines recommended by WHO.
Maintaining and expanding immunizations from 2006 to 2015 in 72 countries eligible for subsidized vaccines would cost an estimated US$35.5 billion, which is less than $50 for every child born in those countries, according to WHO.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged US$10 billion over the next decade, with most of the funds going to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations, which subsidizes vaccine costs for the 72 countries.
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions